Needle-threader for sewing-machines



(Model.)

E. N. MOPHBRRON. NEEDLE r[HEI-READER FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 294,061.

Patented Feb. 2,6, 1884I` `NITE STATES PATENT Brien.

EDWIN N. MCPHERBON, OF GREENFIELD, ILLINOIS.

NEEDLE-TH READER FOR sEwiNe-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 294,061, dated February 26, 1834. Application filed June `2l. 1883. (Model.)

thatshall be free from all liability to cut the,

thread or in any way damageit as it passes out of the guide, and that shall,when the needle is threaded, automatically turn up and out ofthe way of the operator.

A further object of my invention isto adapt the arm of the threader to carry both the iixed and free half of the thread-guide in such inanner as not only to cheapen the construction, but at the same time render the instrument more compact than heretofore.

A still further object of my invent-ion is to give to thelarge orifice of the thread-guide such aninclination relative to its axis as to render the insertion ofthe thread easierthan heretofore.

These improvements I accomplish by certain details of construction and combinations of parts fully explained hereinafter.

In the accompanying` drawings, Figure lis a front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, all three lfigures showing` a portion of the head or guide inv which the needle-bar slides. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken in the line y. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional plan View taken in the line m, Fig. 3.

In the first three figures, A represents a portion of the sewing-machine head or guide in which the needle-bar slides.

B represents the needle-bar, and C the arm of the threader, supported upon a horizontal axis,

d, which is secured to thelower rear part ofthe head A in such position as to allow the arm C to swing round through half a revolution into the position shown n dottedlines,Fig. 1. Said arm is preferably made of thin sheet-brass cut and'bent so that its lower part shall hang parallel with and close te the needle e, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper part being bent, as shown in Fig. 4, and provided with holes or bearings for the reception of the axis d, upon which the threader is suspended. Between the two bearings just alluded to, and wound around the axis d, is a spiral spring, c, one end of which is secured to the aXis andthe other tothe arm, as shown in Fig. 4. n

Tothe lower part of the arm C, as shown in Fig. 2, is secured a funnel-shaped threadguide,

b, the small orifice of which coincides withthe eye of the needle, said guide being split vertically in the line of its axis, and in this detail not differing from other guides of its class. The large orifice is, however, cut obliquelyto the axis, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to facilitate the introduction of the thread,whieh is usually presented to the inlet of the guide with a downward, rather than a horizontal, motion of the hand, thus facilitating the operation of threading the needle.

It will be observed that thelower portion of the arm C is split at f into two parts, c and q, the latter being very much more slender than the former, so as to form a spring, to the lower extremity of .which is secured the half m of the guide b, the opposite half, a, being secured to the lower portion of the part a.'

By reference to Fig. l it will be seen that there is alittle abovethethread-guide b aplate or block, o, secured to the partv a of the arm C and overlapping the side of the spring q. At the opposite side, and secured to the spring q, is a similar bar, o, overlapping the limb a,thus allowing the spring no action save inthe plane of the iiat bar or arm C. The bar r serves the further purpose of a stop to butt against the needle, to accomplish an end that will be explained in describing the operation of the device.

To the lower extremity of the arm C is secured a cross-plate, p, .a plan view of which is givenin Fig. 5. The inner edge, s, of this plate is formed as shown in the drawings, so as to present an abrupt stop to the needle, upon which it impinges by the reaction'of the spiral spring c, andisso adj usted that when in contact with the needle the eye thereof will coincide with the small orifice of the threadguide b, the

edge of said plate p being curved, as shown at t, Fig. 5.

The operation of my device is as follows: The threader being in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. l, it is turned down against the resistance ofthe spiral spring c. In this operation the curved edge of the plate or stop p comes in contact with the needle,which, being elastic, yields easily in the direction indicated by arrow No. 2, Fig. 2, until the shoulder s,Fig. 5,is passed,wl1cn it instantly springs back against the inside of the arm C, andis securely held in position for threading` between the stops s and r. The thread is now passed into the guide, by which it is conducted into Y the eye of the needle, and being taken between the thumb and forenger ofthe right hand is drawn in the direction indicated by arrow 2. Before passing ont o1" the guide the thread would therefore occupy thc position shown at Z, Fig. 2. The lower part of the arm Gis then pushed in the direction of arrowl, Fig. 1,'tl1us opening the division in the guide, as shown in dotted lines. This part of the operation will loe made clear by observing that the half m. of the. guide b is immovable with reference to the needle in consequence of the stop o' bu-tting against it, (see Fig. 5,) said stop being rigidly secured to the spring q, to which thehalf m of the guideisattached. Therefore when the arm C is pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow l, the half a of the guide is pushed away from the opposite half to a distance suflicient to allow the thread to pass outinto the position shown at i. A little additional tension upon v the thread now impinging upon the needle will suficevto spring thelatter aside sufficiently to clear the stop p at the points, Fig. 5,when the arin C will, by the reaction of the spiral spring c, instantly iiy back into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. l. Y

It will be noticed that the guide b being 4o opened in the manner described completely obviates the damage to the thread,which usually results from allowing it to force its way through the division.

. I am aware thatafunnelshaped splitthreadguide is not new. I am also aware that a threader-arm adapted to turn up against the head of the machine is not new. I therefore do not broadly claim these parts; but

'What I do claim, and desire to secure by 5o Letters Patent, is

l. In a needle-threader, the combination of the arni C, supporting-axis (l, spiral spring c, stop p,and guide-blocksol and o, all of said parts being adapted, for united operation, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a needle-th reader, the arm G/,provided with a longitudinal'slitJ', near its inner edge, so as to forni a spring, to the lower extremity of which is attached one half, m, of the split 6o funnel-shaped threadguide, the other or xed half, u, being secured to the rigid part a of the arm C, said rigid part being provided with a guide, o, and the free or spring part q with a guide and stop, r, all these parts rcombined substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of June, 1883.

EDW'IN N. MCPHERRON.

Vitnesses:

J. B. BRoDMARKLn, NEWTON GRAY. 

